You can freeze and thaw almost every type of bread that you buy. Throwing your loaves in the freezer can extend its shelf-life considerably.
However, it’s important to store and freeze your bread in a way that prevents changes to texture and taste.
This article explores the reasons to freeze bread, how to freeze and thaw bread properly, and potential downsides to keep in mind.
Few things taste as delicious and satisfying as fresh bread, especially homemade and bakery bread. However, these fresh and homemade loaves often have a short shelf life because they have little or no preservatives added.
If you leave your bread on the counter or pantry in its original packaging, it can go stale in a few days, eventually growing mold if you’re not careful. This is due to exposure to air and moisture (1).
You can preserve freshness by wrapping bread in aluminum foil or plastic wrap and storing it in your breadbox or bread bag. However, you may find that the crust will lose some of its crunchiness.
Freezing bread is one of the best ways to keep bread fresh. It allows you to keep bread for a longer time while preserving its quality and texture.
In fact, you may find that frozen bread that’s been thawed tastes similar to fresh bread.
You may want to freeze bread if you know you won’t eat it all before it goes bad. Also, if you bought or baked too much bread or are planning to use it at a later date, freezing your bread may help you get the most of your bread.
If you want another layer of protection against freezer burn, wrap bread in plastic wrap then wrap in aluminum foil (2).
No matter whether you use foil or plastic wrap, as long as you wrap your bread tightly you should be able to extend how long your bread stays fresh.
You can freeze bread at any time. Simply place it in its original packaging or wrap it tightly in a freezer bag before freezing. This keeps it from drying out. You can freeze on the day you buy or any time up until the best before date.
If you want another layer of protection against freezer burn, wrap bread in plastic wrap then wrap in aluminum foil (2).
However, it’s important to store and freeze your bread in a way that prevents changes to texture and taste.
Freezing bread is one of the best ways to keep bread fresh. It allows you to keep bread for a longer time while preserving its quality and texture.
If you leave your bread on the counter or pantry in its original packaging, it can go stale in a few days, eventually growing mold if you’re not careful. This is due to exposure to air and moisture (1).
You may want to freeze bread if you know you won’t eat it all before it goes bad. Also, if you bought or baked too much bread or are planning to use it at a later date, freezing your bread may help you get the most of your bread.
Perfecting the art of homemade bread baking can be a challenge, but making sure your loaves stay fresh and edible beyond a few days is an entirely different hurdle. After all, homemade loaves of Italian bread or sandwich-ready white bread don’t contain the same preservatives as store-bought options, and will go bad quickly if not eaten with haste. Luckily, there’s one common kitchen appliance that can extend your bread’s lifespan by up to six months: the freezer.
If you’re running short on time and want to heat the bread directly out of the freezer, bake it for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F. Though you might lose some texture quality with this method, it will save you a few hours by eliminating the thawing process. There’s no need to thaw individual slices of sandwich bread if they’re headed to the toaster; simply slip them into the appliance and they’ll thaw and cook simultaneously.
Breads or cakes that will be eaten in slices rather than as a whole should be sliced up prior to freezing, so that individual slices can be removed without thawing the entire loaf. Rolls, buns, and other single-serving goods can be stored in an airtight freezer bag.
For short-term storage of a few weeks or less, the loaf can be wrapped in a layer of plastic wrap or foil. This storage method is particularly useful for breads that you’ll be reaching for frequently, like pre-sliced sandwich bread.
Though some breads are less suited to freezing than others, particularly baguettes and other crunchy breads that have a larger crust surface area, most bread will perfectly maintain its original flavor and texture post-thaw, if the following rules and techniques are adhered to.
Something Great Happens When You Freeze Your BREAD! Dr. Mandell
FAQ
Can you freeze bread in the bag it comes in?
Can I freeze bread in its original wrapper?
What is the best way to store bread in the freezer?
Can you freeze bread in foil or plastic wrap?
Can you freeze bread in a plastic bag?
And if you’re using a sealed plastic bag, it’ll cause your bread to get moldy. You should keep your bread far away from the stove, the top of the fridge, or any area that’s near sources of heat. Instead, your best bet it to keep it in a dark, cool section of your kitchen counter or your pantry. When in doubt, freeze it.
Can one use low calorie bread instead of gluten free bread?
Low calorie bread and gluten free bread are totally different foods that cannot replace each other. Gluten free bread is a food specifically intended for people with celiac disease or who have a non-celiac gluten intolerance. Low calorie bread is a reduced fat product in relation to other standard breads, so it provides less calories, but it contains gluten.
Can you freeze bread?
Bread can be frozen in its original packaging without having a problem. If you want to keep bread fresh, just place it in a plastic bag and seal it tightly before placing it into the freezer. The best part about doing this is that the bread will still stay soft even after being frozen for a period of time! How long
How do you store frozen bread?
1. Thaw bread in the refrigerator overnight. 2. Cut bread into slices. 3. Place the slices on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 4. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer. 5. When frozen, transfer the bread to storage containers. 6. Label and date the containers. 7. Keep the bread in the freezer for up to 6 months.